Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Triferic Avnu
What is TRIFERIC AVNU used for?
TRIFERIC AVNU is used to maintain iron levels in adults with chronic kidney disease who are undergoing hemodialysis.
How does TRIFERIC AVNU work?
The iron included in TRIFERIC AVNU is used to replenish your body’s iron levels that is lost during hemodialysis. Iron is a key part of your red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body.
What are the ingredients in TRIFERIC AVNU?
Medicinal ingredients: ferric pyrophosphate citrate
Non-medicinal ingredients: water for injection
TRIFERIC AVNU comes in the following dosage forms:
Solution for injection, 1.5 mg elemental iron per mL
Do not use TRIFERIC AVNU if:
- You are allergic to ferric pyrophosphate citrate or any of the ingredients. If you are not sure about this, talk to your healthcare professional before taking TRIFERIC AVNU.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take TRIFERIC AVNU. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- Have a history of allergies to other iron injection medications. Allergic reactions may include a significant drop in blood pressure, shock, loss of consciousness, and/or collapsing.
- Have a severe infection
Serious Warnings and Precautions
- Injectable iron medications can cause serious allergic reactions including death (anaphylaxis)
- Only use TRIFERIC AVNU if personnel are able to treat severe allergic reactions without delay.
- You will be monitored for signs and symptoms of an allergic reactions during and after your hemodialysis treatment.
- Have low blood pressure
- Have low iron levels or are anemic
- Have liver problems (hepatitis, cirrhosis)
Other warnings you should know about:
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or think you are pregnant, there are specific risks you should discuss with your healthcare professional.
- Use effective birth control during treatment. Talk to your healthcare professional about birth control methods that may be right for you during this time.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Monitoring and Tests
Your doctor will conduct blood tests to monitor your iron levels during your treatment with TRIFERIC AVNU.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
How to take TRIFERIC AVNU:
- TRIFERIC AVNU will be given to you by a trained healthcare professional.
- You will be given TRIFERIC AVNU in a location where any allergic events can be treated immediately. You will be carefully monitored during and after your hemodialysis treatment.
- Your healthcare professional with make sure that TRIFERIC AVNU is prepared correctly before it is given to you.
- The usual dose is 4.5 mL of TRIFERIC AVNU in a single hemodialysis treatment.
- It will be infused slowly into your vein.
- It will usually be infused over a period of 3 or 4 hours.
Overdose:
| If you think you have taken too much TRIFERIC AVNU, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
If you miss your scheduled dose, notify your healthcare professional at your next dialysis treatment.
What are possible side effects from using TRIFERIC AVNU?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking TRIFERIC AVNU. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Side effects of TRIFERIC AVNU may include the following:
- Back pain
- Blurred vision
- Chills
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Feeling hot or cold
- Fever
- Headache
- Itchy skin
- Muscle weakness or spasm
- Nausea
- Pain in hands, arms, legs, foot
- Stomach pain
- Swelling in legs or hands
- Tiredness
- Throat pain
- Toothache
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Wounds or cuts
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Sudden drop in blood pressure or low blood pressure: dizziness, fainting, light-headedness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up) | √ | ||
| Fluid overload: weight gain, swelling, cough or shortness of breath | √ | ||
| Urinary tract infection (infection in urinary system including kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra): pain or burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, blood in urine, pain in the pelvis, strong smelling urine, cloudy urine | √ | ||
| Asthma: difficulty breathing and coughing, chest tightness, wheezing or whistling sound when breathing | √ | ||
| Arteriovenous fistula (connection between the vein and artery) site problems | √ | ||
| Secondary hyperparathyroidism (thyroid condition): abdominal pain, weakness, bone and joint pain | √ | ||
| Hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in blood): lab test abnormality | √ | ||
| Cardiac arrest (heart attack): pressure or squeezing pain between the shoulder blades, in the chest, jaw, left arm or upper abdomen, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, light- | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| headedness, clammy skin, sweating, indigestion, anxiety, feeling faint, possible irregular heartbeat | |||
| Peripheral neuropathy: sensations of numbness, tingling (“pins and needles”), weakness in the body | √ | ||
| Pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs): difficulty breathing that worsens with activity or when lying down, extreme shortness of breath, wheezing or gasping for breath, cold clammy skin, irregular heartbeat, cough that produces frothy sputum, blue-tinged lips | √ | ||
| Diabetes foot infection: pain, ulcer with pus discharge | √ | ||
| Shortness of breath: difficulty breathing | √ | ||
| Pneumonia (infection in the lungs): chest pain when you breathe or cough, confusion, cough which may produce phlegm, fatigue, fever, sweating and shaking chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, shortness of breath | √ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Allergic reaction – which is sometimes life-threatening, severe itching, hives, nausea, swelling face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, redness of the skin, low blood pressure or dizziness | √ | ||
| Chest pain: tightness or pain in the chest | √ | ||
| Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets): bruising or bleeding for longer than usual if you hurt yourself, fatigue and weakness | √ | ||
| Hyperbilirubinemia (high levels of bilirubin in the blood): jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of eyes), dark urine, loss of appetite, fatigue | √ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store between 15-30 ºC. Protect from light. Do not freeze.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about TRIFERIC AVNU:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website www.trifericavnu.com, or by calling 1-855-333-4315.
TRIFERIC AVNU is imported/distributed by RMC Healthcare Inc., Parksville, BC V9P 2B1